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Obadiah Paden (b. 1752, d. October 1822)

Obadiah Paden (son of Samuel Paden and Lydia Potter) was born 1752 in Lancaster, York County, Pa., and died October 1822 in Paden Valley, West Virginia.He married Esther Dunn on May 11, 1776 in Manohan Township, York, Pa., daughter of William Dunn and Sally McKinstry.Notes for Obadiah Paden:Like his father, Obediah, the oldest son, was of the adventurous type and left home at an early age. He married out of th Quaker sect and on May 11, 1776 was disowned at the Warrington meeting. He went down into the South by way of the Ohio River.In 1796 he found a location adjoining the river about 35-40 miles downstream from Wheeling WV where he purchased several thousand acres of land, which at this time was heavily wooded and infested with wild animals, especially panthers.A History of Wetzel County West Virginia states that Obadiah paid $1,333.00 for the land. Indians were plentiful but peaceable and caused no trouble. Many Indians were buried there and originally there were three or four Indian Mounds at and near Paden City, all of which have long been obliterated.Obadiah and his wife, Esther Dunne had 10 children. It is said he patented 2,000 acres of hill and river bottom and in succeeding years fathered 10 children who fathered the town. Obediah died in 1822 and is buried in Paden Cemetery.Obadiah Paden my justly be called the patriarch of Paden Citym which was named for him, and was one of the Ohio Valley's first white settlers.At the time of his death, he willed his 5-6 thousand acres to his sons, James, Jesse, Joseph and Samuel, alson with several slaves and their families.It is traditional information that at the time Obadiah Paden (or Peden) erected his first log cabin here and that it was the only residence of a white man between the settlements of Wheeling, and Marietta, Ohio. Bricks from locally dug clay were used for many buildings, some of which are still standing: The Lanstrum Cook House built by Jesse Paden, The E.A. Pollock house built by James Paden, the J. VanCamp house built by Joseph Paden and the Dick Andros house.More About Obadiah Paden:Burial: Paden Cemetery.Census: 1782, Tax List, Manahan Twp, York County.More About Obadiah Paden and Esther Dunn:Marriage: May 11, 1776, Manohan Township, York, Pa..Children of Obadiah Paden and Esther Dunn are: